a two-wheeled vehicle, like an Irishcar, once common in Melbourne, still used in Brisbane and someother towns: so called from the rattle made by it when inmotion. The word is not Australian, as is generally supposed;the `Century' gives «a covered two-wheeled car used in thesouth of Ireland.»
1862. Clara Aspinall, `Three Years in Melbourne,' p. 122:
«An omnibus may be chartered at much less cost (gentlemen whohave lived in India will persist in calling this vehiclea jingle, which perhaps sounds better); it is a kind ofdos-a-dos conveyance, holding three in front and three behind:it has a waterproof top to it supported by four iron rods, andoilskin curtains to draw all round as a protection from therain and dust.»
1863. B. A. Heywood, `Vacation Tour at the Antipodes,'p. 44:
«During my stay in Melbourne I took a jingle, or car, and droveto St. Kilda.»
1865. Lady Barker, writing from Melbourne, `Station Life inNew Zealand,' p. 12:
«A vehicle which was quite new to me – – a sort of light car with acanopy and curtains, holding four, two on each seat, dos-a-dos,and called a jingle – – of American parentage, I fancy. One drivein this carriage was quite enough, however.»
1869. Marcus Clarke, `Peripatetic Philosopher,' p. 14:
«Some folks prefer to travel
Over stones and rocks and gravel;
And smile at dust and jolting fit to dislocate each bone.
To see 'em driving in a jingle,
It would make your senses tingle,
For you couldn't put a sixpence 'twixt the wheel and the kerb-stone.»
1887. Cassell's 'Picturesque Australasia,' vol. i. p. 64:
«In former days the Melbourne cab was a kind of Irish car,popularly known as a jingle. . . . The jingle has been oustedby the one-horse waggonette.»
1887. R. M. Praed, `Longleat of Kooralbyn,' c. iv. p. 30:
«The Premier hailed a passing jingle.»
[This was in Brisbane.]